Written Answers Thursday 2 June 2005

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many enquiries its Environment and Rural Affairs Department has received about growing finola hemp in Scotland.

Ross Finnie: None.

Ambulance Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what fuel costs were incurred by (a) each police force, (b) the Scottish Ambulance Service, (c) each fire board, (d) its car pool and (e) each NHS board in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: This information is not available centrally.

Broadcasting

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been contacted by BBC Scotland regarding the possibility of extending the provision of local news content for television and radio using digital or analogue media and what its position is on the matter.

Patricia Ferguson: We have regular high-level meetings with BBC Scotland to discuss potential improvements in terms of serving the Scottish public, including the provision of local news services and other public service broadcasting matters. We set out our views on regional and local news services in our response to Phase 3 of Ofcom’s Review of Public Service Broadcasting, which can be found on the consultation responses section on Ofcom’s website at www.ofcom.org.uk .

Care Commission

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to assist any small care organisations like Crossroads Caithness that are disproportionately affected by Care Commission charges.

Rhona Brankin: Regulation is an integral part of the cost of providing a service, and so it should normally be met by that service. Fee levels set by ministers and the Care Commission’s charging regime both take account of smaller care service providers.

  In response to concerns from providers such as Crossroads the Executive has already:

  
set different fee levels for different sizes of services, based on the whole time equivalent staff employed, and
  discounted volunteers from that calculation.


  In addition the Care Commission:

  
offers a direct debit scheme for the payment of annual continuation fees, and
  is considering integrated fees where care at home and housing support services are delivered alongside each other.

Dental Health

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to improve oral health provision in Glasgow Springburn.

Rhona Brankin: I very much welcome NHS Greater Glasgow’s oral health strategy which was launched last month. NHS Greater Glasgow is implementing a range of measures to address the high levels of dental disease. Examples are the Oral Health Action Teams initiative, the development of integrated care pathways, the appointment of salaried dentists, and the enhanced contribution of Professionals Complementary to Dentistry.

Education

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what Learning and Teaching Scotland’s development goals are in respect of outdoor education.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when a national development officer for outdoor education will be in post at Learning and Teaching Scotland and what the officer’s remit will be.

Peter Peacock: The main development goal for Learning and Teaching Scotland is to continue driving up the quality of learning experiences through various, diverse programmes and approaches.

  The appointment of the development officer is a matter for Learning and Teaching Scotland. They have conducted the application process and are currently in negotiations to secure the services of the preferred candidate.

  In order to achieve the goals of the programme, the Development Officer’s remit will include:

  
undertaking an audit of current provision;
  developing case studies and good practice guidance aimed at providing opportunities for young people in personal and social development and learning to work with others in teams;
  highlighting ways in which outdoor education can link with other relevant areas such as citizenship, and sustainability and environmental issues, and
thinking about ways in which outdoor education can provide a setting for delivering parts of the curriculum across a range of subjects;


  with a view to raising the profile and opportunities for outdoor education.

Education

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding it provides to organisations addressing bullying amongst school pupils.

Peter Peacock: Since 1999, the Scottish Executive has funded a national Anti-Bullying Network, and since 1998 it has provided funding to support the ChildLine Bullying Helpline. Scottish Executive funding for anti-bullying activity for 2004-05 and projected funding in 2005-06 are as follows:

  

Anti-Bullying Activity
2004-05
2005-06


Anti-Bullying Network/Scottish Schools Ethos Network
£117,397
£301,526


ChildLine Scotland’s Bullying Line
£55,092
£144,000


Scottish Executive Anti-Bullying Materials
£79,417
£32,000


Scottish Executive Anti-Bullying Competition
£3,563
£4,000


Education authority funding for promoting positive behaviour (implementation of Better Behaviour – Better Learning
£10 million
£10 million



  In 2004, the Scottish Executive commissioned a national needs assessment exercise which gained the views of professionals, pupils and parents on their need for anti-bullying activity. The evidence has been used to develop a new specification for a national anti-bullying programme that will take a strong, pro-active role in developing the role of professionals in all children’s services in preventing bullying and responding effectively when it occurs.

Education

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools took part in the OECD’s "PISA 2003" survey (a) in total and (b) broken down by local authority and how many (i) independent schools and (ii) pupils from each school took part in the survey.

Peter Peacock: Ninety-eight Scottish secondary schools took part in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment  (PISA) survey in 2003. This sample is representative of all mainstream secondary schools in Scotland (local authority, grant-aided, and independent schools). The breakdown by local authority is provided in the following table. Three independent schools took part in the survey. In total, 2,732 pupils participated in the survey. Thirty-five 15-year old pupils from each school were randomly selected.

  

Local Authority
Number of Schools in PISA 2003


Aberdeen City
5


Aberdeenshire
4


Angus
3


Argyll and Bute
0


Clackmannanshire
2


Dumfries and Galloway
1


Dundee City
3


East Ayrshire
4


East Dunbartonshire
1


East Lothian
0


East Renfrewshire
2


City of Edinburgh
5


Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
1


Falkirk
1


Fife
7


Glasgow City
10


Highland
6


Inverclyde
1


Midlothian
2


Moray
2


North Ayrshire
1


North Lanarkshire
10


Orkney Islands
1


Perth and Kinross
2


Renfrewshire
3


Scottish Borders
4


Shetland Islands
0


South Ayrshire
1


South Lanarkshire
4


Stirling
3


West Dunbartonshire
2


West Lothian
4

Education

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the tests carried out in schools for the OECD "PISA 2003" survey were internally invigilated.

Peter Peacock: In all but one school the PISA 2003 tests were invigilated by external test administrators who were not members of the school staff. School staff administered the tests in one small school in a remote location.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many derived grades were awarded to candidates at higher grade in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) grade awarded and (b) examination centre.

Peter Peacock: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The information requested is not held centrally.

Education

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many awards have been granted to each of the agreed participant countries under the Scottish International Scholarship Programme.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish International Scholarship Programme will provide places for 22 international scholars to Scotland in the coming academic year from China (9), India (6), Australia (2), South Africa (2), Singapore (2) and New Zealand (1). Scholarship places are expected to be awarded by the end of June 2005 and students will commence their studies in October 2005.

Education

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure the recruitment and retention of suitably qualified staff in Thurso High School.

Peter Peacock: The recruitment and retention of teaching staff in individual schools is a matter for the Education Authority concerned. The Scottish Executive conducts an annual teacher workforce planning exercise with the aim of balancing supply and demand at a national level. Intakes to postgraduate teacher training courses have increased significantly in order to meet the Executive’s commitment that education authorities should be employing 53,000 teachers by 2007. For 2005, Highland Council have been allocated 54 secondary probationer teachers on the Teacher Induction Scheme as compared to 39 in 2004. Allocation to individual schools will be a matter for the council.

Energy Efficiency

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to accelerate the development of the necessary information resources to allow it to put in place measures that will limit energy demand.

Allan Wilson: The Executive last year commissioned a study which will map the supply, flow and demand pattern of energy in Scotland. This study will help inform future Executive energy policy and strategy development.

  Last year, the Executive announced the development of an energy efficiency strategy. This will set up a framework, define objectives and create a more joined-up approach for future energy efficiency interventions by the Executive.

  Both the energy study and the energy efficiency strategy are due to be published later this year.

  In addition, the Executive is currently undertaking a review of the Climate Change Programme. This will consider the scope for strengthening existing measures or introducing new ones to ensure that Scotland continues to make its contribution to UK climate change objectives. A revised Climate Change Programme will also be published later this year.

European Union

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the European Commission’s Green Paper on Financial Services Policy (2005-2010); whether it will make a submission to the commission; whether it plans to consult interested parties and/or key stakeholders, and whether any submission will be made available beforehand to the Parliament for the purposes of democratic scrutiny and accountability.

Mr Jim Wallace: This issue was discussed at the first meeting of the Financial Services Advisory Board (FiSAB) on, 31 May. We agreed that any position on the EU Green Paper on Financial Services Policy for the next five years would be drawn up in consultation with the industry in Scotland. We also agreed that Scottish Financial Enterprise, in line with its core function as a representative organisation, would draw together industry views in response to the Commission’s proposals. The response to the Commission will therefore come directly from the industry in Scotland, though Executive ministers and officials are prepared offer any appropriate assistance.

European Union

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) interested parties and/or key stakeholders, (b) the UK Government and (c) the European Commission concerning Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on market access to port services , published by the European Commission on 13 October 2004.

Nicol Stephen: Scottish Executive officials met with their Department for Transport counterparts and representatives of the Scottish ports industry on 9 February to discuss the proposed Directive on market access to port services. The UK Government’s position on the Directive is a reserved matter but representations will be made by the Executive, where appropriate, in order to reflect Scottish interest.

Fire Safety

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in respect of the provision of smoke detectors for deaf and hard of hearing people.

Hugh Henry: This is the responsibility of the eight Scottish Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) and is pursued through their programmes of fire safety home visits. In partnership with special interest groups the eight FRSs currently have arrangements in place to install specially designed alarms for the deaf as appropriate.

Fire Safety

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide grants for smoke detectors for deaf and hard of hearing people.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive provided £135,000 at the end of financial year 2004–05 to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) specifically for the purchase of smoke alarms. It was for the FRSs to decide on the best use of this additional funding including purchasing specially designed smoke alarms for the deaf as appropriate.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been informed by the Home Office or any other UK department of the date on which individuals will be able to start applying for visas under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme and, if so, on what date it was informed of this and when it will inform students who may be interested in applying for such visas of the start date.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme will be launched before the end of June 2005, and further details on how to apply will be available on the Home Office’s website, www.workingintheuk.gov.uk nearer the time. The Executive will also publicise the date to students and others when it becomes available.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the Fresh Talent initiative to be sufficient to address any problems it has identified with Scotland’s demographic situation.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Fresh Talent initiative aims to provide an additional pool of talent to support the long-term economic and cultural growth of Scotland. The initiative is one of a range of measures we are taking to further invigorate our economy. The Fresh Talent initiative will play its part to make sure that Scotland has the necessary skills and talent to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is discussing with Her Majesty’s Government the possibility of extending the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme to graduates from non-Scottish UK academic institutions.

Mr Tom McCabe: We are not, and have no plans, to discuss such an extension with Her Majesty’s Government.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have so far been attracted to Scotland by the Fresh Talent initiative.

Mr Tom McCabe: Fresh Talent is a long-term initiative, and measuring its overall success will take time. However, there are some more immediate evaluations that will give us some useful data.

  For example:

  We will know how many people successfully apply to live and work in Scotland under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme, and we are currently in discussions with the Home Office to develop a robust and workable arrangement for monitoring and evaluating the scheme.

  We will also know the number of people interested in living and working in Scotland via the number of enquiries to the Relocation Advisory Service and the numbers visiting the website. An evaluation of the Relocation Advisory Service, which is now underway, will also provide us with some useful information.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it has targeted tourists as potential in-migrants under the Fresh Talent initiative.

Mr Tom McCabe: In taking forward the Fresh Talent initiative, we recognise that tourists who have a good experience whilst in Scotland are more likely to consider, or recommend, Scotland as a great country to live and work. We are therefore putting in place a range of measures to showcase all facets of contemporary Scotland to visitors. For example, we have recently launched a campaign to welcome visitors to Scotland at our major airports and we are producing a CD-ROM and brochure on modern Scotland that will be distributed to the international press and visitors to G8 and major tourist events across Scotland this summer. We will target specific events that attract a high number of tourists such as the Edinburgh International Fringe where we will place a full page advert to promote Scotland, and we will run adverts at the major golf championships in Scotland.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many scholarships for overseas students have been granted under the Fresh Talent initiative for the coming academic year.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish International Scholarship Programme will provide places for 22 international scholars to Scotland from China (9), India (6), Australia (2), South Africa (2), Singapore (2) and New Zealand (1).

  Under the Dare to be Digital competition we have provided funding for eight international scholarships from China (2), Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan and Thailand to participate in the summer 2005 competition.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the details of the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme have been finalised with the Home Office and, if so, whether the Executive will publish these details and, if not, when it expects these details to be finalised.

Mr Tom McCabe: We have been working closely with the Home Office on finalising the arrangements for the implementation of the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme, including the draft changes to the Immigration Rules required to implement the scheme. The Home Office are currently working to lay the Immigration Rules before the UK Parliament in the coming weeks. The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme is due to be launched before the end of June, and further details of how to apply will be available of the Home Office IND website, www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk nearer the time.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether non-European Economic Area nationals who completed an HND at a Scottish college of further education will be entitled to join the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme.

Mr Tom McCabe: Non-European Economic Area nationals who completed an HND at a Scottish college of further education will be entitled to apply to the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who will have responsibility for operating the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Home Office will administer the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme. The Executive will monitor the scheme, and will publish reports on its website.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many training seminars for employers it has provided in partnership with Work Permits UK.

Mr Tom McCabe: We have not undertaken any training seminars with Work Permits UK. However, we have recently appointed a Senior Business Development Executive on secondment from Scottish Enterprise who will play an important part in setting out our strategic framework to raise awareness of Fresh Talent and to deliver training and support services to Scottish employers. We have also prepared an Employers Toolkit for use by Scottish employers who want to know more about employing foreign nationals who need permission to work in the UK. The toolkit is available from the Relocation Advisory Service, through the Scottish Enterprise Networks and on our website, www.scotlandistheplace.com .

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what considerations led to the time-limit of two years on the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme.

Mr Tom McCabe: The commitment to introduce the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme first appeared in the policy statement, New Scots, published in February 2004. The proposal emerged from the work of the project team which was set up in 2003 to develop proposals to progress the Fresh Talent policy. The project team was supported in its work by a steering group, and worked closely with the Home Office.

G8 Summit

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of erecting the perimeter fence around Holyrood during the G8 summit.

Cathy Jamieson: Lothian and Borders Police have yet to award the contract for the work. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the cost of erecting the perimeter fence.

G8 Summit

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs will be of dismantling the perimeter fence to be erected around Holyrood during the G8 summit.

Cathy Jamieson: Lothian and Borders Police have yet to award the contract for erecting the perimeter fence around Holyrood. We would expect the total cost of the work to include dismantling the fence.

G8 Summit

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of repairing any damage to pavements, roads and outside walls will be as a result of the erection of the perimeter fence around Holyrood during the G8 summit.

Cathy Jamieson: Lothian and Borders Police do not anticipate any such damage and therefore do not anticipate any additional costs.

G8 Summit

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions have been made to minimise disruption to road, rail and air traffic in the vicinity of Prestwick Airport resulting from the arrival and departure of foreign heads of government during the G8 summit.

Nicol Stephen: Strathclyde Police, in the planning of their security arrangements for the arrival and departure of foreign heads of government, are aiming to cause the minimum disruption possible. The police have been working closely with the Scottish Executive and other partner agencies to ensure that things go as smoothly as possible. It is anticipated that there will be some disruption to road traffic in the area and anyone who requires to travel in this area between 6 and 8 July is advised to leave additional time for their journey. There are currently no plans to change air and rail timetables.

  For security reasons it is not possible to disclose all of the contingency plans which have been put into place for the management of the movements of the delegates at Prestwick.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to review the bail procedure.

Cathy Jamieson: I am very aware of public concern, which ministers share, about the frequency with which the terms of bail granted are breached. This is why we asked the Sentencing Commission to review the use of bail and remand as a priority.

  We are currently considering very carefully the commission’s recently issued report on the subject. Where it is necessary to legislate to tighten up the arrangements, we will do so.

  We have, however, recently made provision for electronic monitoring as a condition of bail. The court can impose an electronic monitoring condition in murder and rape cases. This is a significant tightening of the previous law where bail could be granted for those convicted of murder or rape without any additional safeguard.

Ministerial Correspondence

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is in a position to respond to my letter of 13 April 2005 regarding the Warm Homes Scheme and the use of Sedbuck C and D rated combi boilers.

Johann Lamont: I wrote to the member on 12 May 2005 providing a detailed response to the issues raised in his letter regarding SEDBUK C and D rated boilers.

NHS 24

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the NHS 24 Independent Review Team’s interim report will be published.

Mr Andy Kerr: The First Minister and I announced on 24 February 2005 that an independent review team, lead by Owen Clarke CBE, would be set up to review the performance of NHS 24. I have now received the team’s interim report which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 36630) and in the Publications section of the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk/publications . I am very grateful to Owen Clarke and his colleagues for their efforts and for producing their interim report on time.

  The interim report draws attention to the need to improve NHS 24 services by: reviewing risk assessment and management relating to call back and other factors affecting access times; further exploring possible solutions to quality and responsiveness of services in remote and rural areas, and more collaboration and co-operation between NHS boards and NHS 24 to ensure patients receive the high quality service they deserve. The interim report notes that a range of actions has been taken and is planned by NHS 24 in response to these recommendations. The Scottish Executive will assist in taking forward any actions that require our support.

  I am also today announcing that I have appointed Mr George King as interim Chair following the decision last week of Christine Lenihan to step down. Mr King will help lead NHS 24 forward into the next phase of its development. A substantive chair appointment will be made as soon as possible.

  I expect to see the review team’s final report by the end of September.

NHS Hospitals

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the provision of specialist services at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Mr Andy Kerr: The planning and delivery of services, including specialist services, at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary are matters for Grampian NHS Board.

NHS Hospitals

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether discussions relating to the retention of services at the Belford hospital, Fort William, and the Lorne and Islands District Hospital, Oban, will be affected by the transfer to NHS Highland of health services currently offered by NHS Argyll and Clyde.

Mr Andy Kerr: I made it clear in my statement to Parliament on 19 May 2005 that my proposals for the future of Argyll and Clyde NHS Board, which will be subject to public consultation, are intended to speed up the rate of modernisation of health care services in the relevant areas.

  The West Highland Health Solutions Group, which looked at options for sustainable futures for the hospitals at Oban and Fort William, was of the unanimous view that the way forward was to develop new and collaborative ways of working between the two hospitals. If, as a result of the public consultation, Oban is brought within the area of Highland NHS Board, I would expect joint working to be facilitated.

Prison Service

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what average time was taken to re-apprehend prisoners who absconded in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not collected.

Prison Service

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio of men to women held in prisons was in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The ratio of men to women for the years in question is as follows:

  
27:1
  28:1
  24:1
  22:1
  21:1


  These figures are abstracted from the Statistical Bulletin. The 2004 edition is not yet published.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what written notices it has issued under paragraph 27.7 of Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock to "require the Contractor to remove any person from the Prison, the Site and the performance of the Services if, in the sole discretion of the Authority, it considers that such person is not a fit and proper person to be present at the Prison or Site or to be involved in the performance of the Services" and what the dates and circumstances were of any such notices.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  None.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for authorising visits to HM Prison Kilmarnock and, in particular, what the roles are in the approval process of (a) the Scottish Prison Service and (b) Premier Prison Services.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Visits are permitted at the discretion of the Director of HM Prison Kilmarnock, who may consult SPS if he considers it necessary.

Public Private Partnerships

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what single bid contracts for PPP schools have been let.

Peter Peacock: No such contracts have been entered into.

Public Private Partnerships

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria local authorities apply in deciding whether renovation or new build is appropriate in PPP school projects.

Peter Peacock: This is a matter for individual local authorities in the light of the circumstances of each school under consideration, including its condition, suitability, the nature of the site, and affordability and value for money issues.

Rail Network

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund any shortfall in the final costs of the Waverley Line, over and above the £151 million already identified.

Nicol Stephen: Responsibility for identifying and securing any additional funding required for the project rests with the bill promoters.

School Meals

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15246 by Euan Robson on 12 April 2005, what the estimated total cost to local authorities of free school meals was in each of the five years prior to 1999-2000.

Peter Peacock: The Executive does not have data on actual expenditure by local authorities (LA) on free school meals. However, using data available on the gross expenditure by local authorities on school meals and the total number of meals provided, we are able to establish an average cost per meal for each local authority. This average cost per meal is multiplied by the take-up of free school meals in order to estimate the cost to local authorities of providing free school meals.

  On this basis, it is estimated that free school meals cost LAs: £36.4 million in 1996-97; £32.9 million in 1997-98, and £34.5 million in 1998-99. Comparable data are not available before 1996 and therefore we cannot estimate the costs for 1994-95 and 1995-96.

  These estimates may not include all the costs local authorities face when providing free school meals. In some cases the cost per meal figure may be underestimated due to the meals being provided under an external contract. In such cases, the figures may not include some elements of operating costs.

Schools

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that the current review of school education delivers sustainable development, as referred to in the Partnership Agreement, in particular in respect of school buildings, the curriculum and how schools are run.

Euan Robson: Integration of cross-curricular issues such as sustainable development will be considered in the next phase of the curriculum review. Sustainable development is a key component of the School Estate Strategy in Scotland.

Sport

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in respect of its National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy.

Patricia Ferguson: Since writing to all successful applicants notifying them of their allocation and the conditions under which the Stage One offer was made,  sportscotland have been holding regular meetings with all successful applicants to review progress, provide additional information and address issues to assist with the development of their projects as part of the Stage Two assessment process. Stage Two applications will be submitted over an 18 month period from May 2005, depending on the scale of each project and how far the proposals were developed at Stage One. Work on the first site is expected to commence in January 2006.

Sport

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities to ensure that the greatest possible use is made of schools after school hours, at the weekends and in holidays by sports, cultural and community groups, with no charge or low charges.

Euan Robson: We encourage the fullest possible use of all local authority resources, including school facilities. It is, though, for the local authorities to determine whether or what to charge for community use of such facilities.

Sustainable Development

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it declined an invitation to join the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its decision not to join the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is undertaking in respect of the exchange between regions of best practice on sustainable development.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with other regions outside the United Kingdom regarding the exchange of best practice on sustainable development.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive maintains close links with the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development which comprises 24 regions from across the world. We receive their papers and one of my officials attended a conference which the network arranged in Cardiff last year while another was a speaker at a seminar on sustainable development indicators that the network organised in Bilbao last autumn.

  The Scottish Executive has considered carefully whether it should become a member of the network. On balance, we have concluded that we should concentrate our international work within Europe where other regions’ experience and social, economic and environmental circumstances are closer to our own.

  We are active members of the Environment Conference of Regional Environment Ministers (ENCORE) network which is the main forum for co-operation between the Regional Environment Ministers of Europe. One of my officials represents the UK on the ENCORE Steering Group. The Scottish Executive’s agreements with Catalonia and Bavaria include co-operation on environmental and sustainable development.

Waste Management

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the provision of separate kerbside collections of plastic containers.

Ross Finnie: It is the responsibility of local authorities to draw up schemes to encourage recycling and, if they so wish, to seek financial support through the Strategic Waste Fund. Through the Strategic Waste Fund, we have funded a number of co-mingled kerbside collections of recyclate which include plastic bottles. In a number of other local authorities, plastic will be collected at recycling points and centres. Separate kerbside collection of plastic containers by themselves is not generally seen as viable at the moment, given the different types of plastic and the light weight of the materials. Information on recycling facilities across Scotland can be found on the "Sort It" section of the Scottish Waste Awareness Group’s website at http://www.wascot.org.uk/ .

Waste Management

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to extend the number of schemes funded through the strategic waste fund.

Ross Finnie: For the current Spending Review period (2005-06 to 2007-08), we have allocated £364.296 million to the strategic waste fund for local authorities and £45.553 million to the other waste initiatives line.

  Through the strategic waste fund, we are providing resources to local authorities to prevent waste arising, to improve recycling and composting facilities, to invest in infrastructure to divert waste away from landfill and to support education and awareness campaigns. Through the other waste expenditure line we are supporting a variety of initiatives including: the community recycling sector (through our INCREASE programme); the Waste and Resources Action Programme, Remade, the Scottish Waste Awareness Group, the Community Recycling Network for Scotland, Envirowise, Business Environment Partnership, Eco-Schools, a project to help remove litter from the North Sea and research.